Stock for firearms.



G. W. SUES.

STOCK FQR FIREARMS. APPLICATION FILED JAN- 21. m2.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEETI Win wows G. W. SUES.

STOCK FOR FIREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application filed January 27, 1912. Serial No. 673,955.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Suns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stocks for Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in small arms fired from the shoulder, and comprises a rifle having a duplex butt, whereby extreme fire ac curacy is insured, making actual an effective fire action not possible under present condi tions.

The object of my invention is to provide a conventionally constructed rifle with a duplex butt, so that the same can be more firmly held and accurately aimed than can a rifle r having a butt of conventional construction.

ing further understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and in carrying out the aim of my invention I provide a conventionally constructed rifle stock having its butt cut lengthwise and in a plane coincident with the major axis of the butt and severed at a point within the small with means for pivotally securing said butts to the small and with means for holding said butts in closed and in divergent spaced relation.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views: Figure A, shows a fragmentary portion of a rifle provided with a duplex butt, parts being broken away and the small of the stock being shown in section. Fig. B, shows a broken sectional detail of the small of the stock. Fig. C, is a detail of one of the butt shells. Fig. D,

shows an outer face view of the upper tang. Fig. E, is an outer face view of the trigger guard tang. Fig. F, is a top vlew showing the butt members as spread. Fig. G, is a transverse section through the small. Fig. H, is an enlarged sectional detail disclosing the position of the cramp bolt, and Fig. I, is a section on line I, I, of Fig. F.

Wlth a rifle as ordinarily constructed in a fire action the personal equation at present, 1s an unnaturally important factor. In the use of a rifle having a butt constructed accordlng to my invention, vertical, but more especially lateral wavering of the piece at the muzzle end is resisted and practically eliminated, makingall shooting with a gun having a duplex butt a matter measurably accurate, so that upon the firing line we can take into account each man as a real effective fighting unit.

A great disadvantage is found in using a rifle as conventionally constructed, in that the rifle is pivotally supported at its base where the greatest stability should be found, so that accurate shooting, especially among soldiers, is an art. On the other hand aduplex butt rifle, while being fired, is in effect supported as upon a tripod, in that the riflemans arms form a third support in conjunction with the two butt members. This construction then eliminates any lateral wavering or movement of the rifle in a horizontal plane, and the immense advantage of this may be appreciated when it is remembered that a man standing, presents a target approximately six times as high as it is wide.

In the accompanying drawings A, represents the receiver of a suitable rifle, the tang a, of which is continued in a flat tongue 1, ending in the apertured head 2. As shown in Fig. D, the base 8, of this flat tongue is enlarged, the tongue being of a thickness less than the tang a, of the receiver, so that there is formed a wall 5. The base 3, is provided with the spaced bolt openings 6, 6, the wall 5, presenting two arcuate surfaces with the bolt openings 6, 6, forming the centers thereof. The aperture 7 within the head 2, serves as a cramp bolt bearing, while intermediate of its ends the tongue has the stay bolt opening 8.

Extending from the trigger guard B, of the piece, as shown in Fig. E, is the tongue base 10, which is obliquely continued in the shoulder 8, from which extends the tongue 9, ending in the apertured head 14. The end 6, of the trigger guard presents two arcuate surfaces 5', similar to the wall 5, described. The tongue base 10, further has the openings of the stock 15, of slightly decreasing thickness, having the apertured projecting head 16. The upper and lower faces of the head '16, are provided'with the rub plates 17 and 18, shown in Fig. B. The small of the stock 15, at the end adjacent to the receiver A, has two bolt openings 20, registering with the apertures 6, 6, and 11, 12 and held within these openings and apertures are the bolts 19 and 20, and pivotally held to these bolts 19 and 20, are the twoequiformed butt shells 21 and 22. As shown in Fig. 0, each shell is slightly wider at the rear end than at the forward end, while at the forward end each shell has two forwardly extending rounded apertured ears 24 and 25, held in parallel spaced relation, and forming a part of the top and bottom flanges 27 and 29. The upper flange 27, of each shell at the forward end extends at right angles, while toward the rear end the flange is curved, as shown at 26, in Figs. C, and I. The lower flange 29, of each shell extends at right angles, as shown in Fig. I, the edge toward the rear of the butt being slightly lipped, as shown at 49.

Extending from the inner face of each shell, intermediate of its ends, are two counterpart superposed arcuate arms, the upper arm of each shell being marked 31, and the lower arms 32, each having a curved slot 33, shown in Fig. F. These arms extend in parallel spaced relation, as shown in Fig. H. The shell 21, is pivotally held upon the bolt 19, while the shell 22, is pivotally held to the bolt 20, each of these bolts below being secured by means of a nut 3, as shown in Fig. G, so that each shell is pivotally held to the small 15. The rounded ears 24 and 25, work against the walls 5 and 5, and upon the bases 3 and 10, of the tonguesl and 9. The bolts 19 and 20, serve to hold. the tongues 1 and 9, to the small of the stock 15, as well as pivotally holding the shells to the tongues.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the small of the stock 15, is held to the receiver and trigger guard by means of the bolts 2, l9 and 20.

Passing through the aperture 59, of the head 16, is the cramp bolt 32, shown in Fig.

' H, the head 36, of which has an inwardly its ends the cramp bolt 32, has a cannelure 34, arranged for co-action with a pin 35, which is held within a bore 60, shown in Fig. B, passing through the small head 16. The pin 35, holds the cramp bolt in position, so that the snug 4, will be held to its seat. The snug prevents any rotary movement of the cramp bolt. The members 1 and 9, form in effect two spring jaws serving to clamp the arcuate arms 31 and 32, to the head 16.

As shown in Fig. A, the offset 8, of the tongue 9, is sufficiently deep so that the cramp bolt head 36, will be held between the tongue 9, and the lower shell flanges 29.

Held to the cramp bolt 32, is the swivel nut 38, which is operated by means of the swivel 39. Each upper shell flange 27 is provided with a suitable access opening 0, through which the head 30, of the nut 38, extends, so that the swivel 39, is at all times held readily accessible above the shell flanges 27, when'the butt sections are in a 'closed position, as shown in Fig..H.

As shown, the cramp bolt 32, passes through the slots 33, of the arcuate shell arms, the arms of the shell 22, sliding above the arms of the opposite shell 21. Each shell has slots 40 and 41, shown in Fig. C, proximal to its arcuate arms 31 and 32. As the'arms 31 and 32, are of a length greater than the thickness of the small 15, the arms of each shell project through the slots of the opposite shell, when the butt is closed.

The curved upper and the flat lower flange of each shell, has suitable countersunk bolt openings 43'and 44, to receive the bolts 45 and 46, shown in dotted lines in Fig. A, the lower openings 53 and 54 being threaded to receive these bolts. Held to the curved flanges 26, and the lipped portions 49 of the lower flanges 29, are the butt sections 48, each held in place by means of the countersunk bolts 45 and 46, which pass through suitable openings within the butt sections, to securely hold the butts to their support ing shells. A bolt may extend through the opening 0, shown in Fig. C, to hold the butt section to its shell.

Secured to the butt sections are the butt plates 53, which at their upper ends d,'are preferably rounded, while toward the lower end the edges gradually bevel inward, as will be understood in referring to Fig. F. This construction insures a comfortable contact of the butts with the riflemans body. For the sake of lightness, the butt sections 48, may be channeled or hollowed out.

As shown at z, in Fig. B, the small 15, is

slightly attenuated beyond the countersunk bolt 2, so that the arcuate arms 31 and 32, may be securely cramped between the heads 2 and 14, of the tongues 1 and 9. As disclosed in Fig. H, the active surface of the upper arm 31, of the shell 22, is provided with the rib 50, arranged for co-action with the transversely extending kerfs 52 and 53, cut in the upper active surface of the adjacent under arm 32. In one position, as when the butts are closed, the rib 51, rests within the kerf 52, so that in tightening the swivel nut 38, the butts are held against casual displacement, while in the spread condition of the butts, the rib 50, rides into the kerf 53, to securely hold the butts in divergent spaced relation. By providing the ears 24, and 25, with meshing gear teeth, the butt members can be synchronously actuated.

Accuracy of fire depends on holding the piece steadily to its proper line of direction withthe object intended to be struck. Rifles as ordinarily constructed are held to the right shoulder and are aimed in closing the left eye and sighting with the right. In my invention, as the barrel is held squarely in front of the center of the riflemans body and as both butt members subtend at equal, through oppositely directed angles from the barrel, the rifle can be aimed with the left eye as well as with the right. As a matter of fact, some users of the duplex butt rifle will find a peculiar advantage in aiming with the left eye while manipulating the trigger with the right forefinger. In either instance, the aiming eye is in natural alinement with the gun sights andthe body of the rifleman is in a natural, unstrained and comfortable position. I

In order to obtain the best results in using a rifle provided with a duplex butt, the rifleman, the stock having been spread and properly secured, faces squarely toward the target, preferably placing the right foot so that the heel is about eight inches to the right of the left heel, the feet extending approximately at an angle of seventy degrees, one to the other. In aiming, the butts of the rifle should be firmly held against the body, so that the barrel is held in alinement with the center of the body and the center of the target, the butts contacting with the breast at suitable points between the riflemans shoulders, the left hand supporting the rifle at the balance, the left elbow to be well under the rifle. The right hand grasps the piece at the small of the stock. The head should be inclined forward until either the right or left cheek rests against the upper flange 26, of one of the butt members. In this position, the aiming eye will be in alinement with the front and rear sights, while the head will be in a comfortable, unstrained position. In a prone position, the two butts enable the marksman to brace himself against his piece thereby steadying his whole bod A rifle constructed according to my invention, with the butts spread, will stand upright upon a horizontal base.

In shooting at a target in the zenith, as at a balloon or airship, the piece in effect forms a machine gun, in that the marksman places the butts upon a suitable base, preferably a piece of board, and with his head upon the base between the butts, aims with either eye, while conveniently pointing the piece.

A double barreled rifle, having a duplex butt would be an extremely effective weapon, as the barrels could be alternately discharged, the marksman aiming first with one eye and then with the other. A muzzle support will then be desirable. As a matter of fact, with a muzzle support, a rifle provided with a duplex butt forms a machine gun, which can be as rigidly held and accurately aimed as i a Vickers-Maxim automatic machinegun.

My invention is applicable to all small arms fired from the shoulder, and it is of course understood that there are many ways in which the two butt members may be secured to the stock and held in open or closed position.

In certain cases, it may even be desirable to have the duplex butt form a fixed part of the stock, in which case the divergently held butts will form a V-shaped extension at the rear end of the stock.

While I have referred to a double barrel piece having a duplex butt, it might be desirable in certain cases to couple two complete pieces in parallel spaced relation, in which instance each stock would have a single butt. In the use of such a duplex piece, one butt would be swung to the right and the other to the left to provide the piece with two divergently held butts.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A conventionally constructed rifle stock having its butt cut lengthwise and in a plane coincident with the major axis of the butt and severed at a point within the small, means for pivotally securing said butt sections to the small, and means for movably connecting said butt sections one to the other.

2. A conventionally constructed rifle stock having its butt cut lengthwise and in a plane coincident with the major axis of the butt and severed at a point withinthe small, means for pivotally securing said butt sections to the small, means for holding said butts in closed position, and means for holding said butts in divergent spaced relation.

3. The combination with a gun stock having a projection of two butt members, means to connect said butt members to said stock, an arm extending from each butt member, and means to adjustably secure said arms to said stock projection.

4. The combination with a gun stock, of two plates secured thereto in resilient spaced relation, a bolt carried by said plates, two butt members pivotally secured to said plates each having an outstanding arm engaging said bolt, and a nut upon said bolt to cramp said arms between said plates.

5. The combination with a gun stock, of two butt members pivotally secured thereto, a bolt carried by said gun stock, each of said butt members having a slotted arm engaging said bolt, and a nut working upon said 20% to adjustably hold said arms to said 6. The combination in a gun including a receiver tongue and a parallel yieldingly held trigger guard tongue, of twov bolts carried by said tongues, a duplex butt, the members being pivotally secured to said bolts, a cramp bolt carried by said tongues, a slotted arcuate arm extending from each of said butt members and engaging said cramp bolt between said tongues, and a nut upon said bolt to cramp said arms between said tongues.

7. The combination with a gun, of two tongues secured to the stock thereof in resilient spaced relation, two bolts connecting said tongues, two similar butt members each having two outstanding ears held in parallel spaced relation, the ears of each butt member pivotally engaging one of said bolts, a cramp bolt carried by said tongues, a slotted arcuate arm extending from each'of said butt members and engaging said cramp bolt and held between said tongues, and a nut upon said cramp bolt to adjustably hold said arms between said tongues.

8. The combination with a gun, of two similar butt members pivotally secured to the small thereof, means to hold said butt members to said small in adjusted relation and means connecting said butt members so that said butt members will be synchronously actuated.

9. A gun of that class fired from the shoulder, including a gun stock, of a butt comprising two divergently held members.

10. A conventionally constructed rifle stock having its butt cut lengthwise and in a plane coincident with the major axis of the butt and severed at a point within the small, means for pivotally securing said butt sections to the small, and means for holding said butts in divergent spaced relation.

11. A conventionally constructed rifle stock having its butt cut lengthwise and in a plane coincident with the major axis of the butt, and severed at a point within the small, with means for securing said butt sections to the small in divergent spaced relation.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, inprese'nce of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. SUES.

Vitnesses HARRY A. HEGARTY, ANNIE I. HIND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each-by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

